Part 1Sunshine After The Rain

My best friend Manon volunteered to get the campus heartthrob’s number for me.

She had a massive crush on his best friend, Nate, so she figured she could kill two birds with one stone.

Thanks to her help, Chase and I ended up in a late-night, sweet-talking online relationship that lasted for three months. By the time we decided to meet up in person, Manon had also managed to win over Nate.

We planned a double date to finally take things offline.

But when the guys arrived at the restaurant, they both walked straight past me and grabbed Manon’s hands.

Nate immediately threw a playful punch at Chase’s shoulder. "Your girl is right there, man. What the hell are you doing holding mine?"

Chase froze. His gaze slowly drifted to my pale, bloodless face, his jaw tightening as he looked back at Manon.

"This isn't fair," he said, his voice dropping into a low, strained whisper. "When I gave out my number, I thought she was the one asking for it."

He looked at Nate, his eyes flashing with stubborn defiance. "I'm going to compete with you, Nate. Fair and square."

"As for Hazel..." Chase turned back to me, his expression suddenly washing clean of any emotion. "Let's just end this. Let's pretend none of it ever happened."

The moment the words left Chase’s mouth, Nate lost his temper.

"What kind of garbage are you talking?" Nate growled, pulling Manon closer to his side as if he was terrified she might vanish. "Manon and I actually love each other. I'm not competing with you over anything."

But Chase didn't back down an inch. "May the best man win. Otherwise, I'm not letting this go. I'm certainly not going to stand by and bless your relationship."

Manon stood trapped in the middle of their glaring match, looking completely stressed and helpless.

I kept my head down, staring at the polished wooden table. I didn't say a single word. From start to finish, not a single person in that huddle looked at me.

Except for Chase, when he casually tossed out that cold, clean breakup.

He had been so incredibly quick to declare his loyalty to Manon.

Yet, just twenty minutes before we walked into the restaurant, his text was sitting in my inbox: Can't wait to see you, baby. I adore you.

As the two boys continued to argue, their voices rising, the other diners in the restaurant began to turn and stare at our table.

"Shut up, both of you. Stop making a scene," Manon snapped, her eyes flashing with anger. "Go home. My head is a complete mess right now. I need some time to think."

She grabbed my wrist, her grip firm and reassuring. "Hazel, let's go."

I didn't say a word, letting her pull me along like a ghost.

But Chase stepped into our path, blocking the exit like a solid brick wall. "I'll drive you guys back."

"If anyone is driving them, it's me," Nate shot back, pushing his way forward.

Manon shoved past them both. "I said I need space! Neither of you follow us!"

She dragged me out of the restaurant and hailed a cab, leaving both of them standing on the sidewalk.

As we sat in the backseat of the taxi, Manon turned to me, her eyes brimming with guilt. "Hazel, I'm so incredibly sorry. I had no idea Chase had confused us. I swear to you, I'll never say yes to him. I know how much you care about him. I'll make sure he understands."

She looked closer at me, her voice dropping into a gentle, worried whisper. "Hazel, are you okay?"

I forced myself to look out the window, blinking rapidly against the hot tears stinging my eyes. "It's fine. Don't worry about it."

"I'm just really tired. I think I'm going to close my eyes for a bit."

I pulled my face mask up over my nose, nearly to my eyes. Underneath the fabric, the tears finally overflowed, tracking silently down my cheeks.

We didn't speak for the rest of the ride.

When we got back to the dorm, my roommates immediately crowded around me, their faces bright with excitement. They had spent hours that afternoon helping me curl my hair, doing my makeup, and picking out the perfect outfit. They had teased me, saying I was going to make Chase's head spin.

But when they saw my swollen eyes and the ruined tracks in my makeup, their smiles vanished.

"What happened, Hazel?"

"Why are you crying? Did he do something to you?"

I swallowed the heavy sob rising in my throat, my voice trembling. "We... we broke up. It turns out I wasn't the girl he wanted."

The moment the words left my lips, I lost all control, burying my face in my hands and sobbing until my chest ached.

Three months of sweet messages, of late-night calls, of believing I was finally loved, gone in a single second.

I had truly believed the universe was finally being kind to a quiet girl like me. But it was all just a cruel, humiliating joke.